Grand Prix 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

So it all comes down to the final race. The prancing horse versus the charging bull. The passionate Catalan versus the efficient German. Red versus Blue. Enough of the clichés, Vettel has a 13 point lead over Alonso going in to the race between the lakes so only has to finish in front of the Spaniard to claim his third title in a row. All the pressure will be on Ferrari and Alonso to give the Spaniard his third title and they probably need something to go wrong at Red Bull to stand any chance of winning, if their pace in the USA was anything to go by.

After his victory in the USA Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to leave McLaren on a high note. Lotus, surely, would love a second victory in 2012 but as fast as the car is it can't compete with the top 3 teams. Felipe Massa is starting to regain some of his old form and will, without doubt, be required to ride shotgun to Alonso. Mark Webber will be looking to win again at Interlagos but I doubt Vettel will suffer similar "brake" problems as he had last year.

The constructors championship is all sown up with Red Bull champions again. McLaren could steal 2nd place from Ferrari but a stronger performance from Jenson Button is needed in Brazil. Last year he was 3rd, two McLaren men in the top 4 could win them a few extra millions from FOM.

The final factor to build in is the weather. Brazil is notorious for changeable weather conditions and a sprinkling of rain could turn things Alonso's way. So tune next Sunday for the final event of 2012, but before then feel free to express your opinions below and don't forget to check out the circuit write up.

http://cliptheapex.com/pages/autodromo-jose-carlos-pace-interlagos/

 

[FB]

Just a thought, is there anything in the rules to punish a team or both drivers if, say, a No.2 driver deliberately impedes an opponent to benefit his team mate? I bet it's only a cash fine.

 

[Brogan]

The team and offending driver could be punished I believe, but not the team mate.
Unless active involvement could be proven in which case the catch-all "disrepute" clause could be invoked,

 

[Jen]

It would seem a lot of people are expecting 'shenanigans' from at least a couple of teams in the final race of the season. I suspect that that might be the case, if the rains don't come - however, should it be dry, the teams might just be canny enough to get away with 'karmic interference', if heavy-handed TPs and related cohorts manage it properly!
It would be a shame if a 'cliff-hanger' is spoilt by clumsy and obvious fixing

Personally, I would like Nando to win the WDC, fairly - and for Seb to lose it fairly. But am sure there will be no:2 deployment (not too bad), engine providers calling in 'favours' (stretching it a bit), steward bias (shouldn't exist, even if BE asks for it).

I'm hoping it will be a proper and true race, but am not convinced, so I will be watching closely and won't be too upset if follows true to form.

 

[Brogan]

Did Kimi's engine just lunch itself in FP3?

Oh yes! That's a big job to get it sorted for qualifying.

 

[mjo]

I think the mechanics saw their lunch break go up in smoke there .
And according to Gary Anderson, Button has changed setup so he is on Hamilton's higher-downforce setup.

 

[FB]

Ferrari practising Massa towing Alonso down the straight in FP3.

 

[racecub]

Lewis seems to have sat in the car in the garage for most of this session. Maybe happy with the car?

 

[FB]

Well Ferrari's sodding about with tows left them 8th and 10th, looking good for Fernando Wonder if the Ferrari helicopter is seeding the rain clouds all around the circuit?

 

[Fenderman]

What with cloud seeding and an EMP device, Alonso and Ferrari should have this one sewn up

 

[Brogan]

Bugger.
Looks like a wet qualifying and quite possibly a wet race.

 

[Brogan]

Grosjean showing his lack of experience again, trying to pass on the inside on the main straight.

He was very, very lucky to escape a major accident.

 

[Brogan]

A front row lockout for McLaren, the fourth one of the season.
It could be gloves off tomorrow between Hamilton and Button going into turn one.

The second successive race that Massa has out qualified Alonso.
Thankfully Domenicali has ruled out sabotaging him this time.

If it rains tomorrow then who knows what will happen or how the various cars will perform.

 

[Greenlantern101]

Really mixed grid. Massively looking forward to the race tomorrow. Hopefully it won't be heavy rain so we can have a regular start and not any safety car nonsense.

 

[snowy]

I think we can make it official; Sebastian Grosjean is a numpty.

 

[FB]

Compared to last week that was quite an exciting session. Fingers crossed the race will be clean, especially the start and the right man wins the title

 

[Brogan]

Just have to wait and see if there will be a penalty for Maldonado for missing the weighbridge and also for the Grosjean-de la Rosa incident.

Maldonado is on two reprimands so a third would see him demoted 10 grid places.

I expect he will receive an outright penalty though as he made no attempt to go to the weighbridge after missing it.

 

[Slyboogy]

Hope Maldonado doesn't get a penalty, he's in my FF1 League team!

Plus it's always exciting having him up there on the grid, even if he can be a bit of an arse.

 

[siffert_fan]

I have to confess that I remain mystified by Grosjean. He looked so good in lower formulae, yet so frequently looks a total twit in F1!

 

[Fenderman]

That's only a half-like Slyboogy as I have sympathy for your predicament in FF1

 

[Slyboogy]

Fenderman I'll take it as a full-like

Maldonado's cost me on many occasions in the FF1 league!